Daily Republican., 1887-06-10
PINK BOOTS.

| A drupken man came staggering
along the village street. AZ BE- rssohcd
corner he cav group OF boys watch.
Ing something across the way. He hst
not entirely lost his senses. 10 he von,
dered what they found 20 intsrestinr
WAia a-at-yer lookup . at ?''
| "Well, old fellow" answered Rilbv
Dorr, we're looking for . beauty 10
come o1t OF the s.ore over there"
Ak-e au TYP"
"Yss. . beauty bat 20 on there no
use o your insering to see Pink Root:
your Old rcd eyes can't ses half acress
tho street"
but We rude boy was mistaken: the
"red.eyes" were not quite 20 blood shos
a. usu.i, and they wore looking With
a. much Snteress - the younger eyes IT.
Pink Boots, who just then opened tbe
door OF Tao store opposite them aud
Game oat. Pink Boots, who was =
beautiful girl Of ton years, had ksr
hands fall Of fowers-roses, lilies aud
carnations She walked . half dossn
Or more stsps down tho walk, and "as
just stepp4ag into . handsome carriage
when another little girl came In sight.
For brtaf moment the two children
stood 10 sxong contrast - Florence
Burr With glowing, happy face, and
Oelia Hunt. with her pale. distressed
one. F1orenoa vas dressed In a. elab.
|3rAtely eubIadered pink cashmere,
and her feet we're enoased 10 Beautiful
pink kid battoasd boots; for Florence
was going 70 L tea party. She wore
Also broad hzi.n med hat With uoddipp
pink p umes. As for Celia, che Mors
an, OLD faded drsse, no short that Il re-
vssl<d her bruised ankles, which were
bare like her feet. An old vel! tied
abo,.t her pi0chsd face did duty a. "a
bead protector, I1t no wrap covered
her d oulders although one was much
nsedsd this chilly day.
Thef,aIriage dro<s away with Flor
ence, GDd Celis stood gazing after II.
The dnrnkeu man saw the poor child,
20 Cid HE boys. Tce latter lau ghed,
and Billy Dorr said, II tell you IL pays
better 10 sell liquor than IL does 10
drink it. What's yoET opinion. Daddy
Hunt"
"Daddy Hunt" did not answer; hs
stool stuptaly gazing ct his bare footed,
weary faced child.
81 cay, Old fellow, did you buy Celia's
fall OUTFIT ~ the same store that PINK
Boots father bought hers?s
shut up now, will you 10y? Ifyou
don't I'll knock the breath out of you i"
The drunksrd spoke savsaely aud
raised his hand to execute his threat,
WHEN suddenly . little arm touched
h's. knd voice said coaxinglys "Coms,
father"
Tho man suffered himself to be led
away.
II was long walk to the drunksri's
home. Before he reached 1t he was
sober.
"Ceiia," he said, would ,ou l.ko
tome pins boots?"
L ks Florenoe Burr's, the pa blican' g
iauehteI?" the asked.
Eyes. like Lers."
"No, father. I would not want them"
"Why not2"
They would not correspond with
my rage" the child said bitterly land |
wouldn't wear Florence Burs's pink
Boots II had silk dresses to wear with |
he en-" che added savagely.
Again her father Quest:oned, why
,ot?"
"B, Gauge they were bought with
money that ought tn have bought bread !,
md meat for poor little starving chill. :
lrer and their cry ing mothers." !!
Nv ho told you spY''
Nobody toll ms found ont fer my.
ELF"
"You are strange child, Celia"
Yea, psrheps ON, but 1 love you,
ather." And Celia put her cold hand
n her fathers.
i don't see how you can" he said
hoklnRly.
III guess It's because you're my ia
her." was the innocent ane wer.
As father and dau Shter entered the
Iouse the mother aoose, pat the sleeping
abe Ia Its wHetohed cradle, and Gaid,
Come to supper"
Such supper for q family OF six!-
aly part OF stale loaf OF bread and
ome weak tea. The patient, weary
wife would not have been surprised II
er husband had thrown the bread
cross the room at the wall and had
lurled the tea pot after 1t, cursing her
t the same time. as he had often done
efore, bat she was surprised when be
ose from the table--just after seating
said huskily, Eat this
Miserable stuff II You CAD, poor things!
Am going out
He started for the door, weak and
Amt. but determined. His wife follow
d him. beseechingly: ooh: don't go
ut again to night, Fred, don't; the
"pm not going out to drink, Mary.
'on't be worried I'm DO in b. 8 O'Clock,
nd II the child should get worse,
ella will find mo o. Sergeant
Vright's
what do You suppose 1t all means,
asked Celia Is soon as her
lther WAS gone. |
II don't know, child; but perhaps 1t
leans there 10 . blessing coming 70 us
IL Pray to God that IL may be so.''
AT y O'Clock face peered through
10 little curtainleis window Of tho
itehen. The o. es saw . desolate pic
Ire. II was this: A bare, cold look,ng
>om, haggard woman bending over
sick babe. little sad-faced girl fallen
sleep on the hard floor while bravely
waiting for father" and two pale
Ice1 boys asleep on low bed against
10 wall. Upon the boys faces were
aces OF tears, for they were only little
'llows of four and six, and had cried
lemselves to sleep because they were
ungry.
The face moved from the window,
nd the man 10 whom 1t belonged
pened the door and walked in.
WIFE," he said, bending down to
lss his wife's worn face for the hrst
me In years, "I've been an idiot ard
brute, and I'll not ask you TO forgive
70 tonight. IN wait until you find
1t that l am . changed man-thank
od that l am! Alb, Celia, you're
aking, child. Florence Burr will
sver buy any more pink boots with
'e money that belongs to my little
les. I've been over to Sergeant
rights working hard at blaokinp